Comments: Data files are in Excel format. Each legislature has two files one for the Senate and one for the Assembly. Users can also register and download this study from DISC Online Archive. 2015-2016 Legislature session was added to this edition.

Access Status: Unrestricted access

Date Ordered: 5/6/2016

Documentation: Codebook files are in Microsoft Word and PDF format. Codebook files can be viewed at this site

Abstract: This study includes the final floor votes on bills contested by at least five percent of voting legislators and biographical and other background information for each legislator. It encompasses the Senates and Assemblies of Wisconsin Legislatures for 1965-1966, 2003-2004, 2005-2006, 2007-2008, 2009-2010, 2011-2012 and 2015-2016 . However 2013-2014 data include all final floor votes on bills in Assembly and Senate. Voting data was obtained from the official records of the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB). The LRB provides nonpartisan, professional, and confidential bill drafting, research and library services to the legislature and the public. Data weights, sampling error and response rates were inapplicable to this study because the data base includes the universe of actual final floor votes on bills contested by at least five percent of voting legislators. Legislator background data were coded in close approximation to the Biographical Directory of the American Congress (BDAC), 4th and 5th editions. Congressional Directories were used to code information about elected members of the named legislatures. Background variables include year of Senate or Assembly, member name, party, leadership position, committee membership, gender, age at beginning of session, born in Wisconsin or other state, born in or near the members district, member's district, geographic region in which district is located, city of residence, year in which member was first elected to the legislature, religion, military service, margin of victory in last election, current and prior occupations, educational attainment (degrees received), ratings by active lobby groups, campaign funds received from within district, campaign funds received from outside of district, total funds received, and constituent group affiliations. The purpose of this study is to provide data that policy researchers, high school and college students, and other interested parties can use to better understand the workings of Wisconsin's current political system and to find way of improving it. For example, users can discover how closely voting behavior matches ratings of individual legislators by lobby groups.